THE RÁMÁYAN OF VÁLMÍKI, VOL. III - Gujarat Knowledge Centre

Canto LXX. THE R^AUYAN. 325
Of deer and many a bear and bird.
Amjng them all he picked and chose,
Drew forward these, rejected those.
Before the princely pair he stood
Barring their passage through the wood,
A league of shade the chiefs had passed
When on the fiend their eyes they cast.
A monstrous shape without a head
With mighty arms before him spread,
They saw that hideous trunk appear
That struck the trembling eye with fear.
Then, stretching to thier full extent
His awful arms with fingers bent,
Round Raghu's princely sons he cast
Eacli grasping limb and held them fast.
Though strong of arm and fierce in fight.
Each armed with bow and sword to smite.
The royal brothers, brave and bold.
Were helpless in the giant's hold
Then Raghu's son, heroic still,
Felt not a pang his bosom thrill
But young, with no protection near,
His brother's heart was sad with fear.
And thus with tnmbling tongue he said
To RSma, sore disquieted:
' Ah me, ah me, my days are told:
see me in the giant's hold.
Fly, son of Raghu, swiftly flee,
And thy dear self from danger free.
Me to the fiend an offering give
Fly at thine ease tnyself and live.
Thou, great Kakutstha's son, I ween.
Wilt find ere long thy Maitlril queen.
And when thou boldest, throned again,